Fr. Corapi Responds to Some of His Order's Charges

[catharina]

Normally, if a priest, brother, sister or nun simply leaves without permission, the superior must contact the person and try to reach some kind of agreement. If the person wishes to request a dispensation, the superior can sponsor him, if the superior agrees with him. If he disagrees with the request, the superior has the moral duty to share his reasons with the Holy See. His reasons weigh very heavily.

In Father Corapi’s case, there are two dispensations to be had. He must be dispensed from the SOLT and from the priesthood. The Holy See can grant one and not the other.

If the person has abused a child, there is no waiting. The paper work is rushed through by the superior. This is not the case here.

Father has been suspended. The usual waiting period is about five-years. If the person does not do something pro-active during that time, the superior has the right to request that the person be dismissed. Remember, I said the usual waiting period is about five -years. The superior does not have to wait five-years, nor does any bishop. This is just a custom, not a law.

The difference between dismissal and dispensation is the same as an honorable discharge and a dishonorable discharge. The effects are the same. You return to life as a lay person. You can receive the sacraments and you’re even allowed to marry in the Church, if you find the right person. However, if you are dismissed, as I said above, you may not exercise any ministry. You can’t even serve mass. If you ask for a dispensation and it is granted, things are different.

The Holy See reserves the right to command you to return to your community or your diocese. In Father’s case, it would be his community. They rarely do this, unless there is a good reason, such as mental illness. If a person becomes mentally ill while in the service of the Church, the Church is very good about taking care of you. Obviously, you can’t function in public ministry, but the Church does not abandon you.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

Lovely, Brother.
Thanks for a full explanation.

 

[dfp42]

Normally, if a priest, brother, sister or nun simply leaves without permission, the superior must contact the person and try to reach some kind of agreement. If the person wishes to request a dispensation, the superior can sponsor him, if the superior agrees with him. If he disagrees with the request, the superior has the moral duty to share his reasons with the Holy See. His reasons weigh very heavily.

In Father Corapi’s case, there are two dispensations to be had. He must be dispensed from the SOLT and from the priesthood. The Holy See can grant one and not the other.

If the person has abused a child, there is no waiting. The paper work is rushed through by the superior. This is not the case here.

Father has been suspended. The usual waiting period is about five-years. If the person does not do something pro-active during that time, the superior has the right to request that the person be dismissed. Remember, I said the usual waiting period is about five -years. The superior does not have to wait five-years, nor does any bishop. This is just a custom, not a law.

The difference between dismissal and dispensation is the same as an honorable discharge and a dishonorable discharge. The effects are the same. You return to life as a lay person. You can receive the sacraments and you’re even allowed to marry in the Church, if you find the right person. However, if you are dismissed, as I said above, you may not exercise any ministry. You can’t even serve mass. If you ask for a dispensation and it is granted, things are different.

The Holy See reserves the right to command you to return to your community or your diocese. In Father’s case, it would be his community. They rarely do this, unless there is a good reason, such as mental illness. If a person becomes mentally ill while in the service of the Church, the Church is very good about taking care of you. Obviously, you can’t function in public ministry, but the Church does not abandon you.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

Wow, thanks for the info…I’m still trying to take it all in So as of right now though where does he stand? Is it ok for him to be doing what he’s doing? John Corapi is making this all sound ok to everyone on facebook and following him on his blacksheepdog webpage. As a lay Catholic, what really should I think of this? I heard some priest blog say as much as if we even buy anything on John Corapi’s website we are sinning.

 

[JReducation]

Wow, thanks for the info…I’m still trying to take it all in So as of right now though where does he stand? Is it ok for him to be doing what he’s doing? John Corapi is making this all sound ok to everyone on facebook and following him on his blacksheepdog webpage. As a lay Catholic, what really should I think of this? I heard some priest blog say as much as if we even buy anything on John Corapi’s website we are sinning.

I’m not Father’s superior, so I can only comment on what is being said. From what I hear, he was put on leave. While on leave, he can get a job and do whatever he does well. He cannot run a ministry.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[dfp42]

I’m not Father’s superior, so I can only comment on what is being said. From what I hear, he was put on leave. While on leave, he can get a job and do whatever he does well. He cannot run a ministry.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

So, I guess the next question would be… Is the blacksheepdog a ministry? It seems he is getting rid of all of his “Catholic” material but yet starting a new career on social issues like abortion etc. I’m having a hard time what to make of all this honestly. It’s almost as if he “knows” the rules in one sense but will just continue on preaching so to say. One would think the future materials would be the same, but I hearing that he won’t be talking about the Church and it’s teachings.

 

[Robertanthony]

Years ago, people debated his stories, who would hear one thing, someone else another, the “fans” would make excuses “embellishing” was okay, the other end would say, no stretching or lieing about stories was good, and the in-between didn’t really care, they didn’t follow close enough.
Many just are too busy to follow too closely, some still think he has a tumor, others somethng else.

I also heard him say on TV (by phone) he didn’t have a tumor and thought he had something he just wanted to keep private or he just wanted to be left alone and people kept asking. He does have a right to his privacy, but being a public figure, people want to know things. Vitamin D definciency is an easy blood test, I have it, and I had a hard time thinking if he went to the Mayo Clinic they wouldn’t have tested for that, but again, he has a right to privacy, but don’t put things out there that can be disputed, just say, “It’s a private matter and I’ll update when I can. Period, the end.”

The fact he is still selling things is sad, why would any good Catholic need to pay to hear about abortion when so many good websites have plenty of info? Donate that money to them instead. They have commentary, picutres, videos, etc.

I heard his superior asked him to do the Catechism series in “Coronrary” I hope what the poster said about Rome was a tongue in cheek statement.
He left the priesthood after expreriencing 3 apparitions during his route to the priesthood, had a person pay for the seminary when he couldn’t out of the blue, **had to defend his thesis for his doctorate in another language than he knew (and did it) **and this was all signs he was meant to be a priest. He then oddly, didn’t want to do 90% of priestly work, sacraments weren’t important and he was unhappy for 10 years or more.
He started to drastically change his appearance, was never heavy but had to lose so much weight, so many things were warning signs, I hope it was his isolation that caussed this and not another church coverup,they just didn’t want to look too deep if his words were okay, but his body and soul were important also.

Debraran, I had forgotten the bit about the thesis defended in Spanish! Also no need to defend yourself for the expression “leaving the priesthood”, everyone but one person knew what you meant. True, Priests are Priests for all eternity, but they certainly can be dispensed from the priesthood, which IS for people of good faith to be understood as “leaving the priesthood”.

Catharina, I love how you are belliquous and condescending (something to the effect of “Did I make it clear enough for you?”) with debraran but you morph into something quite different when you address JReducation, obsequious readily comes to mind. Of course this is not to take away anything from the considerable contribution that Brother has brought to this thread, but just an observation. I feel that if you can’t bring your point of view to this thread in a respectful and serene manner, perhaps you should refrain…

 

[7_Sorrows]

Normally, if a priest, brother, sister or nun simply leaves without permission, the superior must contact the person and try to reach some kind of agreement. If the person wishes to request a dispensation, the superior can sponsor him, if the superior agrees with him. If he disagrees with the request, the superior has the moral duty to share his reasons with the Holy See. His reasons weigh very heavily.

In Father Corapi’s case, there are two dispensations to be had. He must be dispensed from the SOLT and from the priesthood. The Holy See can grant one and not the other.

If the person has abused a child, there is no waiting. The paper work is rushed through by the superior. This is not the case here.

Father has been suspended. The usual waiting period is about five-years. If the person does not do something pro-active during that time, the superior has the right to request that the person be dismissed. Remember, I said the usual waiting period is about five -years. The superior does not have to wait five-years, nor does any bishop. This is just a custom, not a law.

The difference between dismissal and dispensation is the same as an honorable discharge and a dishonorable discharge. The effects are the same. You return to life as a lay person. You can receive the sacraments and you’re even allowed to marry in the Church, if you find the right person. However, if you are dismissed, as I said above, you may not exercise any ministry. You can’t even serve mass. If you ask for a dispensation and it is granted, things are different.

The Holy See reserves the right to command you to return to your community or your diocese. In Father’s case, it would be his community. They rarely do this, unless there is a good reason, such as mental illness. If a person becomes mentally ill while in the service of the Church, the Church is very good about taking care of you. Obviously, you can’t function in public ministry, but the Church does not abandon you.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

from what he said on the video the other day, he seems to be saying that moving after living somewhere for 20 or 30 years can be very traumatic for someone as though he was giving that as his excuse for not following orders to return to the community in texas. he has made montana his home and seems to want to stay there and not relocate. i am not taking sides, this is just how i see it.

 

[JReducation]

from what he said on the video the other day, he seems to be saying that moving after living somewhere for 20 or 30 years can be very traumatic for someone as though he was giving that as his excuse for not following orders to return to the community in texas. he has made montana his home and seems to want to stay there and not relocate. i am not taking sides, this is just how i see it.

This part is understandable. It is very hard to leave a place that you have called home, where people know you and you know them for so long. Some people can actually go into a state of depression.

I remember being assigned to a mission up in the Andes Mountains. I did not want to go. However, we have a policy. Unless the superior asks for your opinion, you never express it. I had never lived in such a remote area. I was a diplomat’s son. Even though I’m originally from central VA, I lived in such cities as Rome, Hong Kong, Bogotá, Quito and Washington DC.

Within a week I was very depressed. Within two weeks I was having asthma attacks. I had not been asthmatic in my life. I grew up with cats, dogs and a sister who had very long hair. She shed more than they did. All you had to do was look at the kids’ bathroom in my home.

At that time, we had a policy in our constitutions that said that we were never to speak about our life before we entered… You couldn’t think about it and reminisce about the things that made you smile.

I finally ended up being rushed to a major city to be hospitalized for my asthma. They couldn’t find allegies or respiratory disease. The superior asked me to stay in the city for a month, to recover. Within a wee, I was happy, laughing and energetic. It became clear to my doctor that my asthma was psychologically induced. It was real. I could have asphyxiated. The point is that tearing a person away from what is familiar to him and what makes him feel safe is easier said than done. That’s why many communities have a rotation schedule where people are moved every three to six years. Even then, the local superior keeps a close watch to ensure that everything is OK. If it’s not, he communicates it to the Major Superior.

I don’t hold this against anyone who has been living in a place for such a long time. Such a change can take a toll on the person. Some people are more resilient than others. With the help of an understanding superior, the support of a fraternity that loves you and a lot of prayer, you can gradually adapt. I adapted to my mountain mission by starting a school of theology for the local seminarians. This way, they didn’t have to go to the big city for school. Since I loved teaching, it kept me busy and happy.

On the other hand, the one assignment that I could never sink my teeth into was parish work. I was assigned to two parishes. When I was finally pulled out of the second one I told my spiritual director that I now knew what a soul feels like when being liberated from purgatory. To this day, I volunteer to help at the local parish a few hours a week. I travel to parishes to give talks and run seminars. However, I am very happy with my homeless, my expectant fathers, and my novices… I can’t ask not to go to a parish. I can’t even pray that it won’t happen. I just thank God that it has not happened.

My point is that there is discomfort and suffering involved in leaving what one has adopted as home. It takes time and patience to adapt to the change. This is neither an unusual experience nor an unreasonable one.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[catharina]

Debraran, I had forgotten the bit about the thesis defended in Spanish! Also no need to defend yourself for the expression “leaving the priesthood”, everyone but one person knew what you meant. True, Priests are Priests for all eternity, but they certainly can be dispensed from the priesthood, which IS for people of good faith to be understood as “leaving the priesthood”.

Catharina, I love how you are belliquous and condescending (something to the effect of “Did I make it clear enough for you?”) with debraran but you morph into something quite different when you address JReducation, obsequious readily comes to mind. Of course this is not to take away anything from the considerable contribution that Brother has brought to this thread, but just an observation. I feel that if you can’t bring your point of view to this thread in a respectful and serene manner, perhaps you should refrain…

Thank you for the criticism and the critique.
I choose to believe you meant well.

However, to say a priest is not a priest because the priest says so
is simply more of the same of that priest’s circular thinking.

A priest is a priest as long as the CHURCH says he should be called Father.
In the case of Father C, yes, he is a priest -
a priest who has been removed from public ministry,
a priest who has been suspended from his duties,
but STILL a priest.

Brother JR was able to say so and to say it quite clearly.
I thanked him for doing so.

Sorry if you have objections to that.

However you should probably retract your stated view that
“everyone but one person knew” what debaran meant.
So far, that statement is simply your opinion. As for
my being “belliquous” - that word is not known to me.
Maybe it’s some special Canadian usage?

I can assure you that my addressing debaran in the form I did
as to my statement being “clear enough,” I meant that in all
sincerity and with the most gentle intentions. Again, sorry
if you misunderstood that.

As for Brother JR, we have been friends at CA for many years.
Sorry if you misunderstood that too.

Perhaps it would be helpful if I refrain from addressing you?

 

[catharina]

from what he said on the video the other day, he seems to be saying that moving after living somewhere for 20 or 30 years can be very traumatic for someone as though he was giving that as his excuse for not following orders to return to the community in texas. he has made montana his home and seems to want to stay there and not relocate. i am not taking sides, this is just how i see it.

Yes, he does seem to be saying that.
I don’t think anyone disputes that thinking.

 

[catharina]

This part is understandable. It is very hard to leave a place that you have called home, where people know you and you know them for so long. Some people can actually go into a state of depression.

I remember being assigned to a mission up in the Andes Mountains. I did not want to go. However, we have a policy. Unless the superior asks for your opinion, you never express it. I had never lived in such a remote area. I was a diplomat’s son. Even though I’m originally from central VA, I lived in such cities as Rome, Hong Kong, Bogotá, Quito and Washington DC.

Within a week I was very depressed. Within two weeks I was having asthma attacks. I had not been asthmatic in my life. I grew up with cats, dogs and a sister who had very long hair. She shed more than they did. All you had to do was look at the kids’ bathroom in my home.

At that time, we had a policy in our constitutions that said that we were never to speak about our life before we entered… You couldn’t think about it and reminisce about the things that made you smile.

I finally ended up being rushed to a major city to be hospitalized for my asthma. They couldn’t find allegies or respiratory disease. The superior asked me to stay in the city for a month, to recover. Within a wee, I was happy, laughing and energetic. It became clear to my doctor that my asthma was psychologically induced. It was real. I could have asphyxiated. The point is that tearing a person away from what is familiar to him and what makes him feel safe is easier said than done. That’s why many communities have a rotation schedule where people are moved every three to six years. Even then, the local superior keeps a close watch to ensure that everything is OK. If it’s not, he communicates it to the Major Superior.

I don’t hold this against anyone who has been living in a place for such a long time. Such a change can take a toll on the person. Some people are more resilient than others. With the help of an understanding superior, the support of a fraternity that loves you and a lot of prayer, you can gradually adapt. I adapted to my mountain mission by starting a school of theology for the local seminarians. This way, they didn’t have to go to the big city for school. Since I loved teaching, it kept me busy and happy.

On the other hand, the one assignment that I could never sink my teeth into was parish work. I was assigned to two parishes. When I was finally pulled out of the second one I told my spiritual director that I now knew what a soul feels like when being liberated from purgatory. To this day, I volunteer to help at the local parish a few hours a week. I travel to parishes to give talks and run seminars. However, I am very happy with my homeless, my expectant fathers, and my novices… I can’t ask not to go to a parish. I can’t even pray that it won’t happen. I just thank God that it has not happened.

My point is that there is discomfort and suffering involved in leaving what one has adopted as home. It takes time and patience to adapt to the change. This is neither an unusual experience nor an unreasonable one.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

Yes to bolded above.

 

[Robertanthony]

Thank you for the criticism and the critique.
I choose to believe you meant well.

However, to say a priest is not a priest because the priest says so
is simply more of the same of that priest’s circular thinking.

A priest is a priest as long as the CHURCH says he should be called Father.
In the case of Father C, yes, he is a priest -
a priest who has been removed from public ministry,
a priest who has been suspended from his duties,
but STILL a priest.

Brother JR was able to say so and to say it quite clearly.
I thanked him for doing so.

Sorry if you have objections to that.

However you should probably retract your stated view that
“everyone but one person knew” what debaran meant.
So far, that statement is simply your opinion. As for
my being "belliquous" - that word is not known to me.
Maybe it’s some special Canadian usage?

I can assure you that my addressing debaran in the form I did
as to my statement being “clear enough,” I meant that in all
sincerity and with the most gentle intentions. Again, sorry
if you misunderstood that.

As for Brother JR, we have been friends at CA for many years.
Sorry if you misunderstood that too.

Perhaps it would be helpful if I refrain from addressing you?

Oops it’s my native language coming through! “Bellicose” is what I meant. You’re a combination of bellicose and funny, which I kind of like. Seriously, I’ve noticed you on a few threads, and you come across as aggressive. And in the spirit of total honesty, that aggravates me. “Sorry if I didn’t express myself clearly enough” is very different from “Sorry if you misunderstood that”. Subtle difference, nonetheless I detected your intention.

 

[catharina]

Oops it’s my native language coming through! “Bellicose” is what I meant. You’re a combination of bellicose and funny, which I kind of like. Seriously, I’ve noticed you on a few threads, and you come across as aggressive. And in the spirit of total honesty, that aggravates me. “Sorry if I didn’t express myself clearly enough” is very different from “Sorry if you misunderstood that”. Subtle difference, nonetheless I detected your intention.

No difference to me.

I grew up with six brothers and seven uncles.
My only sister and I do not speak like most women,
or so we have been told. If you think of my words
as more “cut to the chase” (to quote my brothers)
rather than as “aggressive or harsh,” you will have an
easier time with my speech patterns. PROBABLY.

PS -do any people say that you’re easily aggravated?

 

[JReducation]

YHe then oddly, didn’t want to do 90% of priestly work, sacraments weren’t important and he was unhappy for 10 years or more…

We want to be very careful here. It is true that the celebration of the sacraments are central to the priesthood, they are not central to every priest. Many priests never celebrate sacraments other than mass. The Church does not want them to do so. They have another calling. I’ll offer a few examples.

Hermits and monks: They celebrate community mass, when the superior grants them permission to do so. They never celebrate any other sacrament. Once in a while, they may be assigned as the confessor to the community. Obviously, if one of their own is dying and the superior is not available to administer Anointing of the sick, any hermit or monk who is a priest should step in and do it.

Friars: certain orders of friars are brotherhoods. The deliberately avoid distinctions between the ordained friars and the lay friars to the point that if there are more than two ordained friars in a house, only one can celebrate mass. The other must attend mass with the lay friars. There is on private mass that he can say. It’s not allowed. Unless he’s assigned to a ministry that requires the celebration of other sacraments, he may spend his entire life and never celebrate other sacraments or at most, he may hear confessions.

Teachers, scholars, administrators and even some bishops: many of these men have never worked in a situation where they’re expected to celebrate sacraments. They celebrate mass and maybe hear an occasional confession, but their priestly work is to preach, teach, administer or be bishop. Our own Pope Benedict was a parish priest for a very short time. He was a diocesan bishop for an equally short time. Father Ratzinger was a teacher and a world lecturer and consultant. Bl. John Paul was a youth minister for many many years. He did very little parish work. Bl. John XXIII was a history professor. Pope Paul VI was a lawyer.

Some of these men have never celebrated anything other than mass or may have celebrated other sacraments in special occasions, but not as a regular thing. It was not their ministry.

We have a young brother in my community who was ordained three years ago and he has never baptized, witnessed a wedding, buried anyone, administered the last rites or even done a May crowning. He helps out in a parish on Saturdays and Sundays where he celebrates one mass and hears confessions. The rest of the week his the Go To Guy for our pregnancy centers.

Then we have non-ordained friars who are spiritual directors, retreat masters, teachers, theologians, administrators and marriage counselors. Brother simply has a gift that none of us has. He is the kind of man who can fix anything. He is happiest when he’s alone with the brothers. He feels very uncomfortable around lay people. He says they make him nervous. He is an excellent writer and does a lot of theological articles and a lot of research when he’s not pulling something apart. The Secular Franciscans love him, because he helps with their formation and he’s an excellent moral theologian. Once a month, he attends their formation classes. People love going to confession to him, on those Saturdays when he is available. Because he’s not attached to a parish, he never goes to a hospital or a nursing home. He never does spiritual direction, though he says that he has no clue how to do spiritual direction, because he was never trained to do it. Most people are not trained for it, but many people simply have a natural gift and do it very well.

Can you imagine a Carthusian monk trying to do a Baptism? He wouldn’t know where to start. Imagine an ordained Trappist (not all of them are priests) leading a Holy Hour. He’d need a guide. They just don’t do these things. I can’t imagine Pope Benedict doing a funeral or a wedding. He would probably have to read it several times before. Prior to Pope John Paul’s funeral, I wonder how many years it had been since he had a funeral mass. The man spent 25 years in an office and before that I don’t know how many years in a classroom, as a consultant or on the lecture circuit.

The point is that not every priest celebrates sacraments. This is the most important part of the life of a priest, but that term “priest” is used in the collective sense. It is not the same for every priest. Some priests are not called to that. It’s not their vocation.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Adoremus_Te]

:bluelite:
May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

There are saints, and there are strugglers…the saints are in heaven.

God bless you,
Quis ut Deus 3 :bluelite:

Quis ut Deus 3,

Succinctly put.

God bless.

Adoremus Te

 

[debraran]

We want to be very careful here. It is true that the celebration of the sacraments are central to the priesthood, they are not central to every priest. Many priests never celebrate sacraments other than mass. The Church does not want them to do so. They have another calling. I’ll offer a few examples.

Hermits and monks: They celebrate community mass, when the superior grants them permission to do so. They never celebrate any other sacrament. Once in a while, they may be assigned as the confessor to the community. Obviously, if one of their own is dying and the superior is not available to administer Anointing of the sick, any hermit or monk who is a priest should step in and do it.

Friars: certain orders of friars are brotherhoods. The deliberately avoid distinctions between the ordained friars and the lay friars to the point that if there are more than two ordained friars in a house, only one can celebrate mass. The other must attend mass with the lay friars. There is on private mass that he can say. It’s not allowed. Unless he’s assigned to a ministry that requires the celebration of other sacraments, he may spend his entire life and never celebrate other sacraments or at most, he may hear confessions.

Teachers, scholars, administrators and even some bishops: many of these men have never worked in a situation where they’re expected to celebrate sacraments. They celebrate mass and maybe hear an occasional confession, but their priestly work is to preach, teach, administer or be bishop. Our own Pope Benedict was a parish priest for a very short time. He was a diocesan bishop for an equally short time. Father Ratzinger was a teacher and a world lecturer and consultant. Bl. John Paul was a youth minister for many many years. He did very little parish work. Bl. John XXIII was a history professor. Pope Paul VI was a lawyer.

Some of these men have never celebrated anything other than mass or may have celebrated other sacraments in special occasions, but not as a regular thing. It was not their ministry.

We have a young brother in my community who was ordained three years ago and he has never baptized, witnessed a wedding, buried anyone, administered the last rites or even done a May crowning. He helps out in a parish on Saturdays and Sundays where he celebrates one mass and hears confessions. The rest of the week his the Go To Guy for our pregnancy centers.

Then we have non-ordained friars who are spiritual directors, retreat masters, teachers, theologians, administrators and marriage counselors. Brother simply has a gift that none of us has. He is the kind of man who can fix anything. He is happiest when he’s alone with the brothers. He feels very uncomfortable around lay people. He says they make him nervous. He is an excellent writer and does a lot of theological articles and a lot of research when he’s not pulling something apart. The Secular Franciscans love him, because he helps with their formation and he’s an excellent moral theologian. Once a month, he attends their formation classes. People love going to confession to him, on those Saturdays when he is available. Because he’s not attached to a parish, he never goes to a hospital or a nursing home. He never does spiritual direction, though he says that he has no clue how to do spiritual direction, because he was never trained to do it. Most people are not trained for it, but many people simply have a natural gift and do it very well.

Can you imagine a Carthusian monk trying to do a Baptism? He wouldn’t know where to start. Imagine an ordained Trappist (not all of them are priests) leading a Holy Hour. He’d need a guide. They just don’t do these things. I can’t imagine Pope Benedict doing a funeral or a wedding. He would probably have to read it several times before. Prior to Pope John Paul’s funeral, I wonder how many years it had been since he had a funeral mass. The man spent 25 years in an office and before that I don’t know how many years in a classroom, as a consultant or on the lecture circuit.

The point is that not every priest celebrates sacraments. This is the most important part of the life of a priest, but that term “priest” is used in the collective sense. It is not the same for every priest. Some priests are not called to that. It’s not their vocation.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

I realize that brother, I see priests that vary in what they do and what they are called to do, it was always the way it was presented by him, a flippancy that some other priests and deacons and “fans” thought he said it.That is what caught my eye and although we can’t know or judge what he did most of the time off the pulpit (which was a lot of time) that was also easier to see in others, Fr, C was much more isolated.
My main point was I felt he was getting to this point for a long time and maybe someone should have interceded before now…it might not have changed anything, that might have been rebuffed as the priest who wanted to live with him, but no one lives that much in a bubble, but it’s easier to turn a blind eye than address things.

 

[Shoshana]

I realize that brother, I see priests that vary in what they do and what they are called to do, it was always the way it was presented by him, a flippancy that some other priests and deacons and “fans” thought he said it.That is what caught my eye and although we can’t know or judge what he did most of the time off the pulpit (which was a lot of time) that was also easier to see in others, Fr, C was much more isolated.
My main point was I felt he was getting to this point for a long time and maybe someone should have interceded before now…it might not have changed anything, that might have been rebuffed as the priest who wanted to live with him, but no one lives that much in a bubble, but it’s easier to turn a blind eye than address things.

I hope I am understanding right here. But who is turning a blind eye? By addressing things here, exactly what does it accomplish? He should’ve, could’ve, would’ve. We do not have all the facts. What does it gain to be detailing everything? As someone pointed out, all this could tarnish the soul…but we candy-wrap it by saying we have the best motivations of Fr Corapi’s soul and priesthood. Do we even know what is good for our own?

Discernement is 100% in hindsight…but is it true discernement? The road to hell is paved with good intentions…

 

[debraran]

I hope I am understanding right here. But who is turning a blind eye? By addressing things here, exactly what does it accomplish? He should’ve, could’ve, would’ve. We do not have all the facts. What does it gain to be detailing everything? As someone pointed out, all this could tarnish the soul…but we candy-wrap it by saying we have the best motivations of Fr Corapi’s soul and priesthood. Do we even know what is good for our own?

Discernement is 100% in hindsight…but is it true discernement? The road to hell is paved with good intentions…

His superiors, not his admirers, I was addressing. If the charges are true (and I find it hard saying SOLT is lieing when they could be sued outright fairly easily enough) or they aren’t, but either way, his changes and what he owns or doesn’t own, shouldn’t have been a surprise to his community, they should have been closer and if they left him be alone, then don’t be overly surprised. His changes weren’t hidden.
When I asked a very devout priest years ago, (the one avoided for long confession lines) what was sinning when Fr. Francis left, he surprised me by saying that although you shouldn’t mention what wasn’t said, (like I assume he does this) he gave a public announcement, had a public website and you can’t expect people not to discuss it but dont’ mention what he hasn’t. He said also to not get caught up in it, like what is happening with Fr C, but that is in part because he didn’t take his website down and stop talking as Fr Francis did.
Whatever “most” people discuss is public knowledge, I’m sure his book will be the same way,if he said one thing at one time and and then another thing another time, that might be petty, but it’s still public, not one person saying they heard it from another. I realize speculation appeared with Fr C but also a lot of documents and truth. I think for some it was mean-spirited, for others, a way to work it through, for others, a way to process the shock of it, the image they had.
I don’t think it was out of line to say that SOLT shouldn’t be surprised when some things they published (re his wealth) was public information.He is not a child, but his situation there was odd
I will just wait and see and hope the best. I don’t want anyone to hurt themselves or the church. I just feel many priests are left without a lot of guidance and later, when something explodes, it’s feigned surprise. I’ve seen that in the headlines many times.

But this has been exhausted, I promised to spend more time in prayer and I will spend more time in doing that and on my other CA forums and religious web sites that make me feel better and not worse. There is a lot of good news I try to post, you need to feed your soul or you start to see more grey than light.

 

[debraran]

That has always been my thought…

I dont’ know of any drugs other than cocaine that Fr. Corapi took long term although he might have mentioned it or if he abused alcohol or considered himself an alcoholic, but although he could have damage, most of that is usually with alcohol, heroin and crack, it is speculating that he has brain damage…that I feel isn’t right either when he might not.

 

[FightingFat]

Good blog on this:

tonylayne.blogspot.com/2011/07/father-corapi-and-authentic-christian.html

The most paradoxical of all truths is this: “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:10). Authentic Christian witness starts with the recognition that we the witnesses need Christ as much as those to whom we testify.

We must be witnesses even when no one’s looking.

 

[PaulinVA]

The more I think about it, I believe that this was the exit strategy for a long time.

Apparently he developed the name of his autobiography a while ago. His then IT guy arranged to register the domain (Theblacksheepdog.com) a year and a half ago, although now he won’t let Fr Corapi use it.

So, could the black sheepdog persona ever coexist with Fr Corapi?

I wonder if the whole thing was planned. Maybe the accusation was planned, maybe not. But I certainly see that there was going to have been a confrontation and a break with SOLT in the near future anyway. Fr Corapi apparently had every intention of retiring in Montana, as he amassed a million dollars in real estate there.

(for those offended by this speculation, I apologize.)